Meet Anna! Anna is a two-time Ball State graduate who currently works as an HR Consultant! She credits her success to the time she spent as a graduate student in the Communication Studies department. Chirp Chirp!
What led you to your graduate program at BSU?
I decided to come back to Ball State for grad school after being laid off from my job due to COVID-19. I worked with a career coach through the Cardinal Career Center to figure out the best next step for me. I knew I wanted to expand my knowledge. I had a pretty specific undergraduate degree (Hospitality Management), and I felt like a graduate degree would help diversify my skills! My career coach helped me determine the best program for me, and I am very blessed to have landed in Communication Studies. It was the absolute best choice!
What was your proudest memory as a BSU grad student?
The very same day that I was accepted into my graduate program, I was also offered a full-time position at a local organization here in Muncie. I had been applying to jobs and graduate school during my decision-making process. I said yes to BOTH! So for the next 6 semesters, I worked full-time at a nonprofit and attended evening classes to complete my degree. It was definitely not easy! There were days I wished I could complete my program like the rest of my cohort, with a graduate assistantship. But my entry-level job turned into a new career path in Human Resources, and I completed my required internship for my program through my workplace. I’m proud of graduating on time with my cohort with a 4.0 GPA while working full-time and balancing career and education. No matter how you get there or what your path looks like, completing a graduate degree is an amazing thing.
How have you been able to use your graduate degree(s) from BSU?
My graduate degree has been very valuable to me throughout my career. I have been able to apply skills I learned in classes like creating surveys, data analytics, and communication methods in all the roles I have had since I graduated. Additionally, having a network from my cohort and professors has been great! I know my degree stands out on my resume, and it is a great talking point for interviews. Specifically, in my program, we had a consulting class with Dr Laura O’Hara. I never thought I would be a consultant, but I loved that class and learned so much about project management, and now I am an HR Consultant and get to apply what I learned in that class with my clients every day.
What advice or wisdom do you have to share with current BSU grad students?
– Don’t be afraid of stress; instead, figure out your priority pain points and work through them one by one. Time management was very different for me in grad school vs undergrad! It will take a minute to settle in, but don’t give up! Try different techniques for studying and block out time for writing. I found a favorite table at Braken where I would spend a few hours each week writing or doing assignments, and it really helped me get in the zone and focus.
– Go to office hours as much as possible, and ask your professors for help when you need it. Faculty are there to help guide and mentor you through the process, and their expertise is invaluable! There is no such thing as a dumb question!
– Spend time with your cohort, they understand the process and will be feeling many of the same feelings, it’s great to have a safe space to share your struggles and also encourage each other.
